CHAPTER
1
MODERN
POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC SYSTEMS
GENERAL INFORMATION
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STATE def A BODY OF PEOPLE, LIVING IN A DEFINED TERRITORY,
ORGANIZED POLITICALLY, AND HAVING THE POWER TO MAKE AND ENFORCE LAWS W/O THE
CONSENT OF A HIGHER AUTHORITY
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CHARACTERISTICS OF (NATION) STATE
o
POPULATION
o
TERRITORY
o
SOVEREIGNTY
§
·
THE ABILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS W/O OUTSIDE INFLUENCE
o
GOVERNMENT
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ORIGINS OF THE NATION STATE
o
FORCE THEORY
§
MIGHT MAKES RIGHT KING OF THE HILL
o
EVOLUTIONARY THEORY
§
THE STATE EVOLVED FROM THE FAMILY TO THE CLAN TO THE
TRIBE ETC.
o
DIVINE RIGHT THEORY
§
USED TO LEGITIMIZE MONARCHIAL GOVERNMENT
§
A GOD GAVE THOSE OF NOBLE BIRTH THE RIGHT TO RULE
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o
SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY
§
HOBBES, LOCKE, ROUSSEAU
§
AN AGREEMENT EXISTS BETWEEN THOSE WHO RULE AND THOSE
WHO ARE RULED
§
TO BE FREE, MAN MUST GIVE UP HIS ABSOLUTE FREEDOM
·
NO FREEDOMS ARE ABSOLUTE
§
THE BASIS OF GRASS ROOTS DEMOCRACY
·
Def ALL POWER EMANATES FROM AND EVENTUALLY REVERTS
BACK TO THE PEOPLE
· POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY
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HOW ARE GOVERNMENTS CLASSIFIED?
o
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF POWER
§ UNITARY GOVERNMENT
·
GOVERNMENT IS CENTRALIZED BUT IT IS LIMITED IN POWER
o
EX- GREAT BRITAIN
§ FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
·
POWER IS DIVIDED BETWEEN A CENTRAL GOVERNMENT AND
SEVERAL REGIONAL OR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
o
THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT IS SOVEREIGN
o
EX U.S , CANADA
§ CONFEDERATE GOVERNMENT
·
Def AN ALLIANCE OF INDEPENDENT STATES
o
STATES ARE SOVEREIGN
o
EX - UNION OF
SOVIET REPUBLICS
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o
IN THE UNITED STATES WE EXPERIENCED
§
THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION, AND THE CONFEDERATE
STATES OF AMERICA
o
O.P.E.C. (A
CARTEL) MIGHT BE AN EXAMPLE
o
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE LEGISLATURE AND THE
EXECUTIVE
§ PRESIDENTIAL GOVERNMENT
·
THE EXECUTIVE AND THE LEGISLATURE ARE ELECTED
SEPARATELY
o
NO SUBSERVIENT EXECUTIVE
o
SEPARATION OF POWERS EXISTS
o
LEGISLATIVE GRIDLOCK CAN BE A DETRIMENT
§ PARLIAMENTARY GOVERNMENT
·
THE PRIME MINISTER (EXECUTIVE) IS CHOSEN BY THE
MAJORITY PARTY IN THE LEGISLATURE
o
THE PRIME MINISTER CAN BE SUBSERVIENT TO THE
LEGISLATURE
o
COOPERATION FACILITATES LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES
o
THE NUMBER WHO PARTICIPATE
§ DICTATORSHIP
·
POWER IS HELD BY A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL OR A SMALL
GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS
·
GOVERNMENT IS USUALLY AUTHORITARIAN
o
RULE TAKES PLACE W/O THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED
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§
DEMOCRACY RULE BY MANY
·
DIRECT OR PURE
·
INDIRECT OR REPRESENTATIVE
· BASIC CONCEPTS OF A
DEMOCRACY
o
THE FUNDAMENTAL WORTH OF THE INDIVIDUAL
o
EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY
o
EQUAL PROTECTION OF THE LAWS
o
MAJORITY RULE WITH MINORITY CONSENT
§
FLUCTUATING MAJORITY Y ISSUE ORIENTATION
o
THE NEED FOR COMPROMISE
ECONOMICS AND POLITICS ARE
INTERTWINED
-
POLITICAL EVENTS IMPACT ECONOMICS AND VICE VERSA
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PREDOMINANT ECONOMIC PHILOSOPHIES
o
CAPITALISM
§
PRIVATE OWNERSHIP OF THE MEANS OF PRODUCTION
§
LAISSEZ FAIRE DEF GOVERNMENT HANDS OFF
§
ADAM SMITH WEALTH OF NATIONS
o
SOCIALISM ECONOMIC COLLECTIVISM
§
GOVERNMENT IS INVOLVED IN BOTH ECONOMIC AND
POLITICAL DECISION MAKING
· EVOLUTIONARY SOCIALISM
o
COMMUNISM
§
SCIENTIFIC SOCIALISM
§
KARL MARX DIALECTIC
·
CLASS WARFARE BETWEEN THE HAVES AND HAVE NOTS